Device for pulling sheet steel piling



July 2, 1935. G. HocKENsMlTH 2,006,949'

DEVICE FOR PULLING SHEET STEEL FILING Filed Feb. 26, 1954 INVENTOR Patented July 2, 1935 U'NiTEDP STATE www DEVICE FOR PTJIiiLINGr' f PILING Georgev I. Hockensmith, Iiixtsliurgli,y Pal,l assigner Booth & Flinn Company, Pittsburgh^,.l?a., a,v

l a corporationjof Pennsylvania l y Y a 4 n, v, Application February 26, 11934 SerialN'o., 712,928

intoithev ground to a greater vor less depth to forni Ycofer dams and the like. This metalf sheet piling' is comparatively expensive, and, when the piling has served its purpose, it isy customary to withdrawfthef piling from the ground and re-use itf. n On account of the depth'v to` which this sheet piling is frequently driven, the problem ofpullingy the piles in such manner that thepile is not injured is a cliiiicult'one. Hithe'rto, it has been customary to make. a hole in the web of the topy of the pile and either pass a hook through'V the hole or pass a` pin therethrough to cooperate with a U-shaped member andy thus provide a connection whereby the pile'may be pulled'. Va-

rions types` of grippingdevices have been provided to. perform this function..` However, nonev of thedevicesfproposed have been satisfactory. For instance thefcommonmethod of pulling a pile by means of aholein the Webfnearrthe top of the pile oiten.- results 'in' they tearing outofthemetal above thehoie, thus mutilating theY pile to such an extent that, iii it. is desired to,

use the pile aga-ima. portion of the.- pile must be: cut oir in order-to perm-ita new hole to be placed inv the: web; They other. gripping devices which have been: proposed have: all'A beenunsatisfactory', as they are` not positive inA their operation and their use constitutesP a'.` hazard'to Workmerr engaged iniepullingfthe, piles.

According to the present invention, I provide an open yoke-like member with depending arms which form a vertically-extending open-sided recess in which gripping devices'or chucks are v socketed so that all the strain of pulling a pile use of my apparatus enables the pulling force' to be directly exerted on the web of the pile and in such a manner that no injury can result thereto.k

Ini the1 accompanyingY drawing, illustrating a.: preferred? embodiment of" the invention,

Figure-"1 is a side elevation of my device, :show-- ingj one of/the plates removed; l

Figure y2i' isl a cross-sectional: view along the plane II-II of Figure l; v Figure 3 is across-section of onel ot the gripping members; S l i 'v Figure iI is a detailed View showing in. eleva.- tion-one-of the grippingy members, the: view.' representing a section val'ong the lineI'V-IViof' Figure 3,'A and f Figure 5v` isV a diagrammatic section. show-ingi thedevice' inl position on the webof the pile.'

'I1-he device or tool comprises' a yoke-like or lil-shaped member" 2 .having vdepending spaced* apartarmsi 31 and 4. Suitable cavities. or sockets.

5 andi 6 are provided inarms 3i and`14; andi-arer4 disposed 'opposite one `another and faced towardi thevertically-extending open-sided recess'li be-` tweenx the arms. TheY inner portion" or each socket is preferably curved and is smooth:` to

provide-abearing surface. The upperportion-of the yoke-like or.bifurcated member'. 2 hasA an elongated? eye portionl or clevis 8 to which ma-yl be fasteneda chain or cable for'lifting' purposes. Mounted inthe socketsv 51 andffare gripping membei's'or" chucks S disposed toward' one' another and' retained in' position by fremovable cover Vpl'ati-:sV ITI), mounted on each side of` the extending arms lor members 3 and 4f. For the Apurpose of illustration, I have' shown' in Figure L one of my lifting tools; with one of the cover vplates 'lfilf removed. Each ofthese cover plates -is fastened tothe' 'arms byscrews or other appropriate means and eaclroi them has a cut-out portion I-I1"vvhich= receivesftheA shank of the bolts I5.

The movable gripping members or chucks 9, see'particularly Figures 3` and 4 are made of a suitable metal, for example, cast steel. One end I2 thereof is curved to bear in the curved seat of the cavity in theyOke-Iike member 2 in which `it is received, whereby it may have a limited arcuate movement. The other end I3 vis serrated so as to form a positive gripping surface. Threaded holes ill are provided in the sides of the chucks, the center of these holds corresponding to the center of curvature of the end portion I2. Closely fitted in each of the holes III is a bolt l5 having a suitable head thereon and the bolt is preferably welded in position in the chuck as to form an operating extension or trunnion, the Weld being indicated at I8. The hole I4 and the bolt I5 are so proportioned that when iii' 'lovl of the bolt head (Figure 2).

the bolt is secured in place there is a space I 6 between the side of the chuck and the head of the bolt. This space is somewhat greater than the thickness of the cover plate I I, so that when the chucks are in position in the lifting tool or gripping device 2 there is a space II between the outer side of the plate and the inner side The portion I5' of the bolt I5 between its head and the side of the chuck 9 is received in the cut-out portion II of plates I0. By applying a wrench to the heads of the bolts I5, the chucks may be positively rotated. This is sometimes desirable in backing-off the chucks after they have been forced or wedged into tight engagement with the pile that has been pulled or lifted.

When it is desired to pull thepile, the web of which is represented by`I9 (Figure 1), the member 2 is placed in a position straddling the web of the pile (Figure 2), the web extending into the space 'I between the arms 3 and 4 (Figure 1). theV tool 2, the serrated edges of the eccentric chucks S and I rmly grip the web of the piles and thus enable the pile to be lifted Without injury thereto. k

One of the advantages of the present invention resides in the formation of the bifurcated body or member 2, the arms of which are of reduced cross section andare entirely free of each other at their outer ends. By reason of these facts, the tool may be applied to a sheet pile having a web which has a comparatively narrow flat surface, as shown in Figure 5. The arrangement and shape of the arms is advantageous when used for pulling sheet piling of irregular section. Another advantage of the invention resides in having the ends of the movable eccentric chuck members bear directly against the curved seats forming the bottoms of the cavities Y andV 6, whereby any strain on these members is transmitted directly to the solid'arms of the member 2. None of the strain falls, von the trunnions themselves. The tool is Vof simple design and may be inexpensively constructed and may be made in various sizes depending upon the range and character of work for which it is to be used. The chucks can be easily and readily replaced when necessary by removal of the side plates II, permitting endwise or sidewise removal and insertion of the chucks.

While I have illustrated and described the present preferred form of my invention, it will be understood that it is not limited thereto but may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims.

When an upward pull is exerted on I claim:

l. A device for pulling sheet piling having anges and an intermediate web, comprising a body having a vertically-extending open-sided recess therein, the body being adapted to embrace the web of a pile and lie between its anges, gripping means within the recess adapted to engage at least one side face of the web to grip the same, means on said gripping means whereby the gripping means may be positively rotated, and means comprising plates removably secured to the side face of said body and extending part way across the recess to restrain the gripping means against sidewise movement.

2. A device for pulling sheet piling having ilanges and an intermediate web, comprising a body having a vertically-extending open-sided recess therein, the body being adapted to embrace the web of a pile and lie between its ianges, a socket in one face of the recess, an eccentrically movable gripping member rotatably seated within the socket and the other face of the recess being provided with gripping means for cooperation with the eccentrically movable member, and means comprising plates removably secured to the side faces of said body and extending across the socket td restrain the gripping members against sidewise movement.

3. A device for pulling sheet piling having flanges and an intermediate web, comprising a body having a vertically-extending open-sided recess therein, the body being adapted to embrace the web of a pile and lie between its anges, each side of the recess having a socket therein, and a pair of oppositely facing gripping f members seated in said sockets whereby the strain may be directly transmitted to the bearing portion of the sockets, and means comprising plates removably secured to the side faces of saidbody and extending across the ends of the sockets to restrain the gripping members against sidewise movement.

Ll. A device for pulling sheet piling having flanges and an intermediate web, comprising a body having a vertically-extending open-sided recess therein, the body being adapted to embrace the web of a pile and lie between its flanges, each side of the recess having a socket therein, a pair of oppositely facing gripping members seated in said pockets, trunnions on said gripping members, and means on said body to receive said trunnions and to restrain the gripping members against sidewise movement, said means comprising plates removably secured to the side faces of said body and extending across the ends of the sockets.

GEORGE I. HOCKENSMITH. 

